Downtown celebrates holidays
with elaborate park displays

THE SEVENTH annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival, downtown Milwaukee’s official celebration of the holidays, sets parks and buildings aglow through Sunday, Jan. 1.

Welcoming visitors are elaborate lighted displays in three parks downtown parks–Cathedral Square Park, N. Jefferson and E. Wells St.; Pere Marquette Park on the Milwaukee River between W. Kilbourn Ave. and W. State St. and Zeidler Union Square, W. Michigan St. between N. 3rd and 4th Sts.

The Eastcastle Place Jingle Bus links the three Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival parks Thursdays through Sundays during the Holiday Lights season. Milwaukee’s Downtown Public Service Ambassadors will narrate the tour. Costing $1, the Jingle Bus will leave from the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, N. 5th St. and W. Wisconsin Ave., between 6-9 p.m. The last bus departs at approximately 8:20 p.m.

Park in the Hilton Milwaukee City Center’s parking ramp for $5 with a Jingle Bus ticket stub or visit www.parkmilwaukee.com for other parking options. The Jingle Bus will not operate Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

This year, SBC Wisconsin -- to be renamed AT&T this month -- plays a major role in celebrating the holiday spirit in the city and throughout the area, beginning with SBC Radio Disney Family Nights on Fridays, Dec. 2-23, from 6-8 p.m. in Pere Marquette Park.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with an outdoor Holiday Lights Street Jam with the AM 1640 Radio Disney Street Squad. Warm up inside with make-and-take crafts in the Milwaukee County Historical Society and conclude the evening with a Holiday Lights Street Jam finale and a drawing for a $100 downtown shopping spree.

The SBC Holiday Snow Globe also will be onsite from 5-9 p.m. Walk through the life-size snow globe, capture the moment with a family photo and receive a free gift from SBC. In addition to SBC Radio Disney Family Nights, this magical snow globe will also be on display from 5-9 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 3-17.

Enjoying the holidays in Milwaukee couldn’t be easier, since families can take the Eastcastle Place Jingle Bus to SBC Radio Disney Family Nights each Friday. The evening includes complimentary Jingle Bus rides from Pere Marquette Park, hot cocoa and coffee, cookies, and free coloring books and crayons for the kids.

Again this year, the Wyndham Milwaukee Center will host the Festival of Trees. The elaborately decorated trees will be auctioned to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin.

Other downtown lighting attractions include harp lamp and skywalk decorations, roofline lighting, and window and door displays. For more information on the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival visit www.MilwaukeeHolidayLights.com or call 414-220-4700, ext. 30.

SBC this year also is the major sponsor for the popular Holiday Night Lights weekends at the Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Rd. Light displays, holiday activities and musical performances are planned from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17.